Valve construction



July 10, 1962 A. H. WAKEMAN l 3,043,327

' VALVE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 24, 1957 f f g Ufff' wmdyww- MLvZAzMA/nn 5.

Creamery Package Mfg. Company, Chicago, lll., a

corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 24, 1957, Ser. No. 685,888 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-112) This invention relates to a valve construction and more particularly to a valve construction suitable for use with a continuous type ice-cream freezer or the like.

`It is customary in most continuous type ice-cream freezers for the latter to be provided with a discharge pump for controlling the discharge of the product from such apparatus. Diliiculty is oftentimes encountered during start-up of such apparatus, in preventing the discharge pump drawing a Vacuum until sufiicient product has been accumulated in the freezing chamber toA permit the product to be withdrawn from the chamber by the pump. Attentive action on the part of an operator of such apparatus is required to prevent the buildup of such a vacuum.

A further disadvantage of prior apparatus of -this type is that, unless there is the exercise of due diligence on the part of the operator during start-up o'f'such apparatus, excessive pressures Iare likely to build up within the freezer cylinder interior, which would cause damage to the apparatus itself and/or in instances where relief valves are provided, cause such valves to yield or rupture. When yielding or rupturing of such relief valves occurs, Econsiderable loss of the product oftentimes results. In the practice of due diligence, the operator of such prior apparatus is normally required to shut down the feed as well as the discharge pumps of the apparatus and seal olf the vent generally located on the front part of the cylinder, upon the product within the cylinder attaining a predetermined level. Compressed air -is then introduced into the cylinder in order to attain overrun in the product. Simultaneous with, or immediately after, the introduction of such compressed air, a manually `adjusted valve, generally located between the suction side of the discharge pump and the outlet for the cylinder, is opened so as to prevent the build-up of the undesirable excessive cylinder pressure. It is apparent with the aforementioned steps required to be performed by an operator that the operation of such apparatus is highly susceptible to human error. Furthermore, the provision of one or more pressure relief valves on such an apparatus increases production as well as maintenance costs.

Thus, it is one ofthe objects of this invention to provide a valve construction which prevents the build-up of excessive pressures within the cylinder and/or a vacuum in the discharge line, without the attentive efforts or the practice of due diligence on the part of an operator, as heretofore required.

It -is a further object of this invention to provide a valve construction which is responsive to the product owing through such apparatus and lautomatically prevents flow of such product to such discharge pump until a required amount of product has accumulated in the reservo1r.

It is a still further object yof this invention to provide an improved valve which eliminates the need for a conventional relief valve or valves.

It is a still futher object of this invention to provide an improved valve construction which permits continuous operation of the discharge pump even during an olf cycle of operation of the cylinder.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide 3,043,327 Patented July 10, 1962 ice ' claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a valve construction is provided which is yadapted for use with a iiuid reservoir and a pump. The valve construction includes an elongated housing which is provided with a iirst inlet port in communication with the reservoir, a second inlet port spaced from and in substantial axial alignment with respect to said first port, and a third outlet port disposed intermediate said inlet ports and in substanstantial transverse relation with respect to the axis of alignment of said inlet port/s. Disposed within the elongated housing and mounted therein for slidable movement in the direction of the axis of alignment of the inlet ports is a piston. The movement of the piston isrestricted to between `a tirst terminal position, wherein only the second and third ports are in communication, and a second terminal-position wherein only the first and third ports are in communication. The piston is responsive to a predetermined amount of pressure created within the reservoir `and is automatically actuated thereby from th first to the second terminal positions.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view partially in section of the improved valve construction shown incorporated in a continuous type freezer apparatus and with the piston of such valve construction in its first terminal position.

' FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the piston inV its second terminal position.

FIG. 3 -is a fragmentary view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a continuous type ice-cream freezer incorporating the improved valve construction.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIG. 5, the improved valve construction 10 is shown,l in this instance, incorporated in a continuous type icecream freezer 12, wherein the latter include a feed pump 8 and a discharge pump 9, which are in communication with the inletand outlet ends, respectively, of the freezer cylinder 11. Also communicating with the inlet, or left hand end, of cylinder Il, is an air inlet conduit which introduces compressed air into the product to effect proper overrun thereof. It is to be understood, of course, that the application of the improved valve construction for use on a continuous type ice-creeam freezer is merely by way of illustration and is not to be limited thereto.

The improved Valve construction 10, which is disposed intermediate the outlet end of cylinder 11 and the suction side of pump 9, includes a housing 13 provided with an elongated chamber 14 having formed at one end thereof a first inlet port 15 which communicates With the interior of the freezer cylinder 11. The housing 13 is removably mounted on the outlet end of the freezer cylinder to facilitate cleaning thereof. Formed at the opposite end of chamber 14, and in substantial axial alignment of iirst inlet port 15 is a second inlet port 16 which is, in this instance, in' communication with the atmosphere. A third, or outlet, port 17 lis formed -in housing 13 intermediate inlet ports 15 and 16, and such port 17 communicates with housing chamber 14. Port 17 is disposed substantially transverse with respect to the axis of alignment of ports 15 and 16. Port 17 also is in communication with the suction side yof a discharge pump 9. Discharge pump 9, as the name implies, eifects control of the discharge of a product from the apparatus 12.

Mounted within chamber 14, for slidable movement in a direction of the axis of alignment of ports 15 and 16, is a piston 18 which is adapted to move between two terminal positions A and B, see FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. When the piston is in terminal position A, inlet 16 and outlet port 1'7 are in communication with one another and inlet 15 is sealed off therefrom. On the other hand, when piston 18 is in the second terminal position B, inlet port 15 and outlet port 17 are in communication with one another and inlet 16 is sealed off therefrom.

Piston 18, in this instance, comprises a head 20 pro vided with a peripheral .groove in which is disposed a resilient sealing member' 21 such as, for example, an O ring, which is in slidable sealing contact with the interior surface of housing chamber 14. Extending transversely from one side of head piece 20 is an elongated stem 22 which has an outer section 22a of reduced diameter as compared to an inner section 22b, for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. Disposed within inlet port 16 is -an annular `sealing member 19, such as, for example, an ring, in which the central opening of such Iannular member is 0f greater diameter than the diameter of outer stern `section 22a, but of lesser diameter than the inner stem section 22b. When the piston 18 is in the terminal position A, as shown in FIG. l, the outer stem section 22a is in registration with the central opening of member 19 and cooperates therewith to form a restrictive passageway 23 which is in communicationwith outlet port 117. To facilitate positioning of the piston in terminal position A, a handle 24 is removably mounted on the exposed portion of stem section 22a.

When the piston 18 is in termnial position B, as shown in FIG. 2, stem section 22b cooperates with member 19 to seal off inlet port 16 and thereby effect communication only between inlet port 15 and outlet port 17. This sealing-off effect of port 16 by stem section 22h occurs not only prior to piston 18 reaching position B, but as soon as head piece 26 commences to uncover port 17 to port 15, and thus prevents any discharge of the product through port 16.

In start-up of the 4freezer 12, piston 18 is manually moved to terminal position A and vent 25, positioned at the front end of cylinder 11 above housing 13, is uncovered. As the feed and discharge pumps 8 and 9, respectively are put in operation, any air which might have been entrapped in the cylinder ahead of the mix, or product, being introduced into the cylinder will be expelled through vent 25, until a predetermined level of product has been attained in the cylinder. Upon this latter condition occurring, the vent 25 is capped by the operator; subsequent thereto, the piston 18 will automatically shift from the position A to B upon the required pressure within the cylinder being established. During all this time, the discharge pump 9 is free to run because of its suction side being vented to the atmosphere through restrictive passageway 23. Air may be automatically introduced into the cylinder interior upon vent 2.5 being capped and thus obtain proper overrun of product which is discharged by pump 9.

Thus, it will be seen that an improved valve construction has been provided which is of simple, yet strudy, construction, is capable of being readily manipulated into and out of position, may be readily assembled and disassembled for cleaning and facilitates start-up of a cont-inuous type ice-cream freezer or the like with safety both to the equipment and its operating personnel.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of .the invention.

il claim:

1. A sanitary valve construction comprising an elongated housing provided with a cylindrical chamber, a first port formed in said housing adjacent one end of said chamber, a second port vformed in said housing adjacent the opposite end of said chamber and axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and a third port formed in said housing and communicating with said `chamber and disposed intermediate said first and second ports and having the yaxis thereof substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said chamber, and a piston mounted within said chamber for movement longitudinally thereof, said piston including a head portion in slidable sealing engagement with the interior surface of said chamber, said head portion being movable between a iirst terminal position intermediate said first and third ports wherein said second and third ports are in communication with one another, and a second terminal position intermediate said second and third ports wherein said first and third ports are in communication with one another, the movement of said head portion from said first to said second terminal positions being automatic when a predetermined pressure differential is attained between said rst and second ports, and an elongated stem portion extending transversely from one surface of said head portion and movable therewith, the length of said stem portion being greater than the distance between the first terminal position of said head portion within said chamber and said second port whereby segments of said stem portion are continuously disposed on opposite sides of said second port, said stern portion having first Iand second sections, said first section being of greater `length than the axial length of said second port and being `disposed within said second port when said head portion is at said first terminal position, said stem rst section cooperating with said second port to form a restrictive passageway, the 4second section of said stem portion being axially aligned with said first section and interconnecting said first section and said head portion, said stem second section having a length less than the distance between any portion of said head section, when in its first terminal position, and the end of said second port adjacent said chamber and greater than the distance between any portion of said head section, when in its second terminal position, and the end of said second port adjacent said chamber, said stem second section being of greater diameter than said first section and in sealing engagement with the second port when said head portion is in said second terminal position, said third port being substantially always in communication with either said first or second por-ts.

2. The sanitary valve recited in claim 1, including a first seal means removably mounted within said second port and accessible from the exterior of said housing, said first seal means being adapted to effect sealing engagement only with said stem portion second section when the latter is disposed within said second port, and a second seal means carried by and enveloping said head portion periphery, said second seal means being in continuous sealing engagement with the interior surface of said chamber.

. 3. The sanitary valve recited in claim l, in combination with a uid reservoir connected to said first port whereby iiuid is caused to tiow from said reservoir interior into said housing chamber, -a iiuid feed pump communicating with said reservoir interior, `a gaseous supply connected to said second port, whereby gas is caused to flow through said second port intro said chamber, and a disch-arge pump having the suction side thereof connected to said third port.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Whitman July 4, 1916 Beebe July 29, 1930 Piquerez Aug. 24, 1937 Ayres et al. Aug. 1, 1939 Kuenhold July 8, 1941 Hoof Sept. 12, 1944l 6 Collins etal Feb. 1l, 1947 Gray Aug. 21, 1951 Dombeck Nov. 4, 1952 Williams et al May 12, 1953 Graham Feb. 8, 1955 Ritter July 5, 1955 Wilson Sept. 25, 1956 Stern June 25, 1957 

